Stepfamily members enter their new families expecting and longing for blissful blending and a fresh start. But these same family members often seek help because they may find themselves struggling with unhappy children, caught in conflicts over parenting, confronting difficulties with the stepparent role, facing uncooperative ex-spouses, and dealing with differences about everything from the “appropriate” cost of a pair of sneakers, to whether Grape Nuts is a breakfast food or a form of cardboard. Furthermore, at a time of major transition when children most need attuned attention from their parents, stepfamily structure creates experiential divides that leave children feeling alone and parents feeling deeply frustrated.
The dilemma is that few mental health professionals receive any training in the complex dynamics and intense challenges of what we call “blended family” relationships, despite the fact that these issues saturate our practices. Stepfamilies can be healthy, happy families and good places to raise children. However, what it takes to make a strong stepfamily is very different from what works in a first-time family. Furthermore, using what you know about first-time families as a guide all too often leads stepfamily members and those who want to help badly astray.
Whether you work with adults or children, with individuals, couples, or families, with young people or with older adults, this engaging and practical web conference will help you to make sense out of the apparent chaos and choose the most effective path to being helpful. Dr. Papernow will integrate over three decades of clinical experience with her solid understanding of the research to provide you with immediately applicable tools for helping stepfamily members to meet their challenges and develop solid satisfying relationships.
This intermediate-level web conference is designed to help clinicians:
If you have any questions or concerns about this web conference, or would like more information, please contact us here.
Attendees who register for this event will log in to the web conference center by using a computer and calling in to the teleconference line. Attendees will be able to ask live audio questions via phone and/or submit text chat questions via computer. Live streaming video and/or document sharing will also be available to participants. Alternatively, attendees may dial in to the teleconference line only, though attendees dialing in by phone only will be unable to ask questions.
Before the scheduled event, all registered attendees will be sent a reminder email with specific instructions on how to log in to the web conference center, as well as links to optional handout materials if applicable.
This event will include lecture and question-and-answer periods. A recording of the web conference will be available to members in GoodTherapy.org's Continuing Education Archives within two weeks. After the live event, a written transcript of the event will be available in the Member's Area. Members of GoodTherapy.org can receive continuing education credits for attending this event by logging in to the GoodTherapy.org Member's Area.
Two CE credits will be provided by GoodTherapy.org for attending this web conference in its entirety.
GoodTherapy.org is also an Approved Education Provider by NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals (provider #135463). Of the eight counselor skill groups ascribed to by NAADAC, this course is classified within counseling services.
GoodTherapy.org is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements.
GoodTherapy.org is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
GoodTherapy.org, SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0395.
Premium and Pro Membership with GoodTherapy includes access to this web conference at no additional cost, as well as other member benefits such as a profile listing in GoodTherapy's Therapist Directory. Not yet a member? Sign up for a Premium or Pro Membership, here.
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Mental health professionals who are not members can attend this live web conference for $30.95 or access the homestudy recording for $15.50. Sign up here to purchase this CE course and earn a CE certificate.
Dr. Patricia Papernow has been internationally recognized as an expert on “blended families.” She is a highly engaging speaker and teacher and the author of two of the classic books in the field. Her most recent book, Surviving and Thriving in Stepfamily Relationships: What Works and What Doesn’t (Routledge, 2013), has been widely acclaimed by both clinicians and stepfamily members, as well as by clergy, teachers, grandparents, and adult stepchildren. She is the author of numerous articles and book chapters, and has been interviewed on many local and national television and radio shows, including Good Morning America, PrimeTime Live, and The Katie Couric Show.
Dr. Papernow maintains a private psychology practice in Hudson, Massachusetts, and she also works at Harvard Medical School as a clinical instructor. For more information, or to contact Dr. Papernow, please visit her website at www.stepfamilyrelationships.com.